AMENDING LAND LAWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22247, 23 October 1935, Page 15

AMENDING LAND LAWS

REVALUATION REVIVED DEFERRED PAYMENT TERMS AUTHORITY FOR CONCESSIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Tuesday The revival of the revaluation provisions of the 1924 Land Act and its amendments is the most important section of the Land Laws Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Gov-ernor-General's Message in the House of Representatives to-night. The revaluation provisions were originally suspended by the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act, 1932-33, and by subsequent amendment the suspension period was extended to July 1, 1930. It is now proposed to cancel the suspension period, allowing the revaluation provisions again to become operative. Applications will be dealt with by the local committees and the Central Revaluation Board in the same manner as before the suspension of the statutory provisions, i A further amendment deals with ! deferred payment licences held on the .'34.J-year table, making it possible to grant new licences for a similar term and treating the unpaid balance of the principal moneys as the purchase price under the new licences. It is also proposed to grant authority for the postponement of principal repayments under licences held on the 34}-vear term for any period not exceeding seven years, the licences to be extended for a corresponding term. Interest only -will bo payable on the duo dates during the period of postponement. Tho object is to provide authority to enable periodical instalments to be reduced in cases where licensees are finding it difficult to keep up their payments. Tho time during which holders of leases in perpetuity of settlement land and Cheviot Estate land may exercise the right to acquire the freehold of their holdings expires on December .'3l, and provision is made fn the bill for tho extension of this perioil to December .'3l, 1040, The bill also provides for the granting of extension not exceeding seven years of licences for occupation with the right of purchase due to expire before January 1, 1041. The remainder of the bill comprises machinery clauses amending existing legislation. IRRIGATION SCHEMES CHANGES IN CONDITIONS STATE UNDERTAKINGS [BV TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Tuesday _ A change in the principles underlying irrigation schemes will be effected by the Public Works Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-night. It is proposed that irrigation schemes should be carried out under tho same conditions as other State or private enterprises.

At present hefore irrigation schemes can be constructed under the Public Works Act at least half the land owners who would benefit by the scheme must enter into agreements to take water. This procedure was adopted mainly to ensure an adequate return on the capital expended, but it has been found to work unsatisfactorily in practice. It has not been possible in many cases to adhere to the agreements and the rates originally fixed have been reviewed from time to time bv various committees.

It is now proposed that when a scheme becomes an economical proposition owing to the demand for water it should be constructed and the water sold to irrigators in such quantities as are required, either for payments in advance or on monthly payments. I'his system will ensure that irrigators do not get into arrears, involving the Government in large outstanding debts which it has considerable difficulty in collecting. It also lends itself to an automatic adjustment of the farmers' financial resources. The bill also contains provisions giving the Crown security against land and stock for irrigation dues in respect of any new scheme.